Instant Celtic Reaction: £2.4m bounty secured as Welsh shines

Honduran winger Luis Palma opened the scoring when he blasted a spot-kick after Liam Scales was impeded in the box at a corner. It was the least Brendan Rodgers' men deserved after an excellent all-round display up to that point. They looked up for it from the off, buoyed by a bouncing atmosphere from the magnificent fans, and zipped the ball about with aplomb.

The Dutchmen were always a threat, showcasing some intricate forward play of their own and Joe Hart made a number of solid saves before Yankuba Minteh found himself free in the box and drilled home with only ten minutes left on the clock.

It looked like the game was heading for a draw when Matt O'Riley twisted and turned in the box then stood up a delicious cross to the back post for Labernielke to nod home unmarked and send the fans into delirious raptures.

Here are the key talking points from the night. 

Millions of reasons to be happy

While many talked about this fixture being meaningless ahead of the match, all Champions League games inject €2.8m straight into the winning club's coffers. To put that into context, it's roughly the same amount received for coming second in the Scottish Premiership. So for Celtic to walk away with such a large wad of cash will be well received by the club's moneymen. And of course, there's the kudos too. A win at this level is never small beer and means Celtic double their points tally from last year under Ange Postecoglou. While it's always challenging at this level given the huge budgets of some of the competitors, only away to Atletico Madrid was a game that got away from Rodgers tactically, and even that thrashing only came after a farcical sending-off. The Northern Irishman was always going to look for progress this season and it's hard to argue with the black and white evidence of four points collected.

Welcome back Welsh

It was a surprise return to the team for the academy graduate, who made his first appearance for the club since August. Coincidentally, it was also his first minutes since signing his new deal, unluckily picking up a knock in training less than 24 hours after agreeing improved terms on a four-year contract. Even more surprising was his immediate return to European football, given that Celtic have other defenders to call upon in the shape of Nat Phillips and Gustaf Lagerbielke. Partnered alongside Liam Scales, Welsh’s distribution was mostly okay, though one slack pass allowed Feyenoord in, which came to nothing. He found himself behind Gimenez by way of a long ball over the top, though Hart spared his blushes with an excellent save. Not afraid to put his head on any cross that comes his way, Welsh showed bravery to put his body on the line for the cause. The second half started the same as the first for Welsh, with the defender towering over his Feyenoord marker to make an important headed clearance into the opposition’s half. Welsh did not look out of place slotting in alongside Scales, both who featured two years ago at home against Real Betis in the Europa League. Who would have thought they would both be playing for Celtic in the Chanpions League under Rodgers in 2023? It’s been a truly weird season in that regard, but props to both for making their way back. He was replaced by Lagerbielke for the final 15 minutes.

Mixed bag McGregor

McGregor, what is going on? For whatever reason, the captain is all over the place this season with regard to consistency. Unfortunately for the usually solid Celtic stalwart, many of his performances campaign have been ones to forget, particularly in Europe. Usually a guaranteed seven or eight out of 10 in matches like tonight, the midfielder could not get going, particularly in the first half. Not helped by the early injury and subsequent removal of Tomoki Iwata, McGregor had to move back into the number six role, a position he has become accustomed to over the past three years. Wasteful on the ball and repeatedly dispossessed, the captain’s opening 45 minutes were certainly forgettable, despite his side going in at the break ahead. Into the second half, and the captain tried to play himself into some sort of form. He showed signs of his scintillating best when he was able to break the lines in midfield and get the ball out to James Forrest, though nothing came of the break in fairness. He then overplayed a simple pass from a short corner, though the idea was good from the captain. He came ever so close to winning the game for Celtic with a thunderbolt from outside the box, though his strike clipped the woodwork. Overall, a mixed performance from McGregor, though his long range strike against the bar was nearly a moment of vintage magic.

Passionate Paradise

Someone forgot to tell the spectators - both of Celtic and Feyenoord persuasion - that this game was a ‘dead rubber’. Despite the fact that both sides knew their respective fates in the group beforehand, you would not know it from the noise and passion in the stadium on the night. This is perhaps helped by the visiting support, who evidently came in their thousands to support Arne Slot and his players, so much so that some Feyenoord fans had tickets in the home end! A lot of talk before the game was about how much of a muted atmosphere this was going to be, but it was nothing of the sort. Raucous just before kick-off for the Champions League anthem, the supporters came in their thousands to back the team, regardless of how disappointing the campaign has been in terms of results. It has been a rough couple of weeks domestically, adding to the disappointment of European matters, but the fans were not going to let that get in the way of another night under the lights in Europe’s top competition. The crowd did get a little bit more tense in the second 45 minutes as Celtic looked to hang onto their lead, which they unfortunately did not do. Still, a memorable night, at least off the park in terms of atmosphere.

Hart stands tall

He's been on the end of criticism, much of it fair, for long parts of the season but tonight he rolled back the years. The Englishman was kept busy all right and he stood up to the test with his best performance of the season so far. While the 36-year-old isn't the keeper he once was, Hart is still capable of big saves and he proved it with several, the most notable denying Santiago Giminez when the Mexican was put through on goal in the first half. While Brendan Rodgers may yet move in January for a new keeper, if Hart was able to maintain this level there would be little need.